Child Exploitation Material - Civil and Criminal Actions (Safe Kids Act)

SB 989 (Safe Kids Act) creates a civil cause of action allowing parents or legal guardians of minors depicted in unlawful child exploitation material to sue online platforms that knowingly distribute such material. The bill defines "unlawful child exploitation material" to include AI-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children, criminalizing platforms that knowingly issue, sell, or distribute these materials. It establishes remedies including actual damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages for affected families, while exempting platforms acting solely as transmission services. The law applies to social media, apps, and websites that create or distribute content featuring minors in sexual situations, including AI-generated depictions.